Juve vs NEC, Spalletti: ‘We know what we need to improve’

Juventus are being asked to bounce back immediately after the heavy defeat to Sassuolo. The nature of the defeat was particularly significant; mistakes that must not be repeated were analyzed with the team, as Spalletti himself explained ahead of the home debut in the Europa League against NEC at Allianz Stadium.

“We are aware there is room for improvement; we analyzed the situation in depth, identifying the things that need correcting,” the Tuscan coach said at a press conference. “We need to be more compact in order to cut off our opponents’ passing lanes.”

“Essentially, we need to understand the moments; collective tactics are becoming less and less important. The difference lies in how you read the situation; mental tempo makes the difference. Keeping a certain tempo is essential to arriving first and anticipating opponents. I won’t say anything about the formation.”

The focus then shifted to the controversy surrounding Juventus; in recent hours, rumors have also circulated about Spalletti’s own future. “Am I under pressure? Accepting it is the medicine for learning to live,” he added. “You feel pressure when you forget who you are. If you listen to everything you’re told, you lose your identity.”

On NEC: “Their coach is top level. He plays attacking football and scores an average of two goals per game. They are good at applying constant pressure; we’ll need to be ready for every move they make to avoid making the evening unpleasant.”